Hope Manor II Apartments will Connect Residents with Services Needed to Live Independently

CHICAGO - Governor Quinn today was joined by the Volunteers of America of Illinois to break ground on the Hope Manor II Apartments - one of the first large-scale housing developments in the nation designed to address the needs of Veterans with families at risk of homelessness. This announcement is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to make Illinois the most Veterans-friendly state in the nation and ensure servicemembers have the support they need when they return home

"We have a duty to provide Illinois Veterans with the support they deserve after serving our country," Governor Quinn said. "Veterans often return to a unique set of challenges during the transition to civilian life, and this new community will address their family needs during this time. We must always take care of our Veterans on the home front, just as they have taken care of us."

Under Governor Quinn's leadership, the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) provided an $800,000 loan to finance the development located at 60th and Halsted streets in Chicago's Englewood neighborhood. The campus-style community will feature a mix of single-family town homes and apartments built around a park, all located on a three-acre site donated by the city of Chicago.

Developed by the Volunteers of America, Hope Manor II Apartments also received a $190,000 Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) grant, as well as a $1.9 million federal HOME Investment Partnerships Program loan and a $3 million tax-increment financing grant from the city of Chicago. Alderman JoAnn Thomson of the 16th Ward donated the property to build Hope Manor II.

"We are so excited to once again partner with IHDA to bring an important resource to our nation's Veterans," Volunteers of America of Illinois President & CEO Nancy Hughes Moyer said. "Hope Manor II will serve an increasingly vulnerable population of Veterans - younger Veterans with families, many of whom are women with young children. These brave young men and women have sacrificed a great deal to serve our country and they deserve a safe and affordable place to call home when they return. Hope Manor II will provide our Veterans with the stability and support they need to successfully reintegrate back into civilian life."

The new community will provide 73 units of permanent supportive housing in studio, one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments. Residents will have access to employment readiness classes, job training and coaching, computer training, a business resource center, a health and wellness center, peer support groups, recovery groups, individual and family counseling, mental health screening, case management support, and access to the Volunteers of America of Illinois' True North Project which aids Veterans who are struggling, in crisis or at risk of serious instability in their lives.

The development is the second phase of the Volunteers of America's Hope Manor Project. IHDA was proud to provide federal stimulus funds and federal tax credit financing for Hope Manor Apartments, which celebrated its grand opening in May 2012 in East Garfield Park. Hope Manor provides housing and services to single Veterans. A community to serve families is the appropriate next step.

An estimated 1,147 Veterans experienced homelessness on a given night in Illinois in 2012, or 15 percent of all Veterans in the general population, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness. Women Veterans are the fastest growing demographic in the Veteran community in Illinois and many face significant obstacles upon their return to civilian life. They are often younger than their male colleagues, have different healthcare needs, face the highest rate of unemployment in the Veteran population, and access Veteran services and resources less often.

Under Governor Quinn's leadership, Illinois has responded to the need for affordable housing and supportive services. Approximately 1,800 community-based supportive housing units have been financed across Illinois since 2009. IHDA financed 466 units of safe, affordable housing and 289 supportive housing units specifically targeted to Veterans in that same timeframe.

The first phase of construction is scheduled to be complete by the end of 2013, with a final completion date of June 2014. To qualify, residents must be at or below 60 percent of the area median income, or $35,340 for a two-person household. All 73 units will be supported by project-based vouchers from the Chicago Housing Authority.

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RANTOUL, IL (04/15/2013)(readMedia)-- Illinois National Guard (ILNG) Soldiers and Airmen searched a collapsed building, extracted victims and decontaminated mass casualties during the three-day Prairie North 2013 exercise in Rantoul, April 11 to 13.

The ILNG Chemical, Biological, Radiological/Nuclear and High Explosive Response Force Package (CERFP) team along with 15 local and state agencies conducted a full-scale exercise to better communicate and enhance their training for a potential manmade or natural disaster.

"There was a lot of hands-on training," said Pvt. Kyle Eldridge of St. Louis, a medic with the 445th Chemical Company out of Shiloh, Ill.

During the exercise, Eldridge cleaned and decontaminated the simulated casualties after they were extracted from the collapsed building.

"(The training) could potentially save a lot of lives," said Eldridge.

Sgt. 1st Class Mike Markham, a noncommissioned officer in charge for CERFP with Joint Forces Headquarters in Springfield, Ill., said he was there to support the Soldiers and Airmen when they had questions during the training scenario and to make sure everyone was safe.

Markham of Chatham said he watched over the search and rescue teams as they climbed through the demolished building looking for casualties. He said the scenario included casualties with a range of issues from simulated arm and leg injuries to fatalities.

"The training is very realistic," said Markham. "I don't think we could get a better training area. This is what they would call a dynamic pile. If you mess up you may pay for it."

With approximately 200 Soldiers and Airmen, the ILNG CERFP team helps ensure the Governor and Adjutant General have the means to mitigate risks associated with search and extraction, mass decontamination, and medical triage and stabilization to the casualties.

Capt. Scotty A. Duranceau, a clinical nurse with the 126th Medical Group at Scott Air Force Base in Belleville, Ill., said his training focused on mass casualty triage treatment. He said his group assessed all patients before sending them on to the next station for further help.

"We stage for all events so we are ready in case a real situation occurs," said Duranceau of St. Louis. "I believe it keeps us honed in on our skills, especially those life support skills."

Duranceau said Illinois is properly preparing for a disaster by conducting these mock training exercises. He said the ILNG is ready to fill any void the civilian sector may need in the event of an emergency.

"It's a great opportunity for us to put that footwork into the local population so they can see we are there and can use us," said Duranceau.

It shows Illinois citizens there is one line of force and they are all there to accomplish the same goal, "get the people the care they need and to get them better," he said.

The CERFP used this exercise as the final preparation for an upcoming external evaluation.

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representatives Dave Loebsack (D-IA) and Glenn 'GT' Thompson (R-PA) today introduced H.R. 1488, the Recovering Service Members Disability Benefits Act, a bill to exempt disabled service members from the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) mandatory 5-month benefit waiting period.

"It is unacceptable for our service members who have been wounded defending our country to have to wait for benefits or face financial hardship.  Instead of worrying about if they will be getting their benefits, they should be focusing on getting better," said Rep. Loebsack. "Our veterans are already waiting far too long to receive VA benefits. They should not also be subjected to delays in their Social Security benefits.  This bill honors the sacrifices our wounded service members and their families have made for our country.  We owe it to those who have put their lives on the line protecting our freedoms to ensure that they are able to quickly access the benefits they need."

"When combat ends, we must realize that often the struggle continues for our brave soldiers as they return home. We owe our soldiers a great debt of gratitude, and we must ensure they are not burdened while transitioning back into day to day life," stated Rep. Thompson. "The Recovering Service Members Disability Benefits Act will exempt combat injured service members from the Social Security Disability Insurance program's 5-month waiting period. This will help our wounded warriors and their families avoid undue financial and emotional distress."

H.R. 1488 amends title II of the Social Security Act to provide that the waiting period for disability insurance benefits shall not be applicable in the case of a disabled service member recovering from an injury or illness incurred in a combat zone.

The Recovering Service Members Disability Benefits Act does not expand eligibility for SSDI benefits or automatically approve individual requests, and all of the same protections used to prevent fraud and abuse of the program remain as defined under current law.

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad will present the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Governor's ROTC Award for outstanding achievement to nine students from The University of Iowa, Iowa State University, Drake University, University of Dubuque, Buena Vista University, and the University of Northern Iowa.  The ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, April 10, 10:30 a.m. at the State Capitol in the Robert D. Ray Conference Room.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013 

10:30 a.m. Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds attend Iowa ROTC Governor's Cup Ceremony

Robert D. Ray Conference Room

State Capitol

Des Moines, IA

Gov. Branstad presents the awards annually to top students in nine ROTC programs at six Iowa universities.  The awards "honor the men and women for leadership, academics, and military achievement."

Receiving this year's awards will be:

- Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Thomas W. Bentley II, University of Iowa Army ROTC, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Bentley of Chaska, Minnesota.

- Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Bethany M. Fischer, University of Northern Iowa Army ROTC, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Fischer of Farmington, Minnesota.

- Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Ryan A. Halverson, University of Dubuque Army ROTC, the son of Mr. Rick Halverson of Cassville, Wisconsin.

- Cadet Colonel Amanda M. Heller, University of Iowa Air Force ROTC, the daughter of Master Sergeant Walter Heller of Laporte, Colorado.

- Cadet Major Curtis R. Nielsen, Drake University Army ROTC, the son of Ms. Marguerite Nielsen of Carroll, Iowa.

- Cadet Major Jamie L. Oberg, Buena Vista University Army ROTC, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Steve Oberg of Mapleton, Iowa.

- Midshipman First Class Jayson S. Rimer, Iowa State University Naval ROTC, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Rimer of Papillion, Nebraska.

- Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Adam D. Schilling, Iowa State University Army ROTC, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Schilling of New Hampton, Iowa.

- Second Lieutenant Kevin R. Stoll, Iowa State University Air Force ROTC, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Stoll of Apple Valley, Minnesota.